MERTON’S Blockbuster staff are safe in their jobs despite the announcement that the company has filed for bankruptcy protection in America.
Richard Cutcher, Dominic Sutton, Rufus Thompson, and Hannah Shroot
Merton’s Blockbuster staff are safe in their jobs despite the announcement that the company has filed for bankruptcy protection in America.
Employees arrived at work on Thursday morning uncertain about their futures and were instructed not to speak to the media regarding developments in America.
Blockbuster’s European Senior Vice-President, Gerry Butler, said: “The key message to our UK staff is that they have nothing to worry about at all.
“We are having a very successful 2010 so far and forecasts for fourth quarter profits are excellent. It’s business as usual.”
In America the DVD rental giant is struggling with big debts and competition from online services such as Netflix and Redbox.
Blockbuster faces similar competition in the UK market from companies such as Lovefilm and iTunes.
The company has an online presence but has not secured the leading market share.
Wimbledon resident Carl Johnson, 21, said Lovefilm offers a better service than Blockbuster.
He said: “Blockbuster DVDs sometimes have a lot more scratches. That doesn’t happen with Lovefilm.”
